This is all a bit desperate.
Whilst many observers the world over commend London on its progressiveness in electing the first Muslim mayor of any major western city, it seems a minority of small-minded bigots are intent on painting the news as some kind of threat or danger to England’s capital.
This has been apparent in the use of the #Londonhasfallen hashtag on Twitter (which was hijacked by those finding the very notion a nonsense), and Britain First’s Paul Golding turning his back on Sadiq Khan during his victory speech in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Britain First's Paul Golding turns his back at London declaration in protest at Zac Goldsmith stealing his policies pic.twitter.com/FG1LSpsUnC
— James Doleman (@jamesdoleman) May 7, 2016
Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – is the latest extreme right-wing commentator to warp the news and attempt to fuel fear and hatred off the back of the election.
He tweeted two images side by side, one of Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed before the election result, and one purporting to be Ahmed at Khan’s signing in as Mayor of London at Southwalk Cathedral.
In the first image, Khan’s wife isn’t wearing a headscarf, whilst the second image shows a Muslim woman adorned in one. The suggestion seems to be that once Khan was elected, he and his wife could drop the liberal pretence and go back to their traditional Muslim-y ways.
In his blind hatred Tommy can't tell the difference between Saadiya and me.
Malice knows no boundaries it seems. pic.twitter.com/jGBkdsND4U— Sarah Joseph (@SarahIJoseph) May 8, 2016
Except the second image isn’t Ahmed at all, but rather editor and CEO of emel Media Group, Sarah Joseph. She took to Twitter to confirm that she was in fact a different Muslim woman, and condemn Robinson for the false attribution.
Sadly that wasn’t the end of it, with other right-wing websites spreading the lie.
Apparently I am now Sadiq Khan's wife who has been forced back into her hijab! People I assure you I am NOT Saadiya pic.twitter.com/9KUONad0n0
— Sarah Joseph (@SarahIJoseph) May 8, 2016
Even the Young Conservatives are spreading this nonsense. The Future of the Tory Party is in "safe hands" it seems. pic.twitter.com/qrSFeg9QxQ
— Sarah Joseph (@SarahIJoseph) May 8, 2016
Despite her image being used for false and potentially harmful propaganda, Joseph somehow managed to maintain a sense of humour about it all. It seems she has more wit and grace than Robinson and his cronies.
With my ACTUAL husband on our wedding day. He's "brown", just like @SadiqKhan – "Oh they all look the same!" pic.twitter.com/hv0YwNC29g
— Sarah Joseph (@SarahIJoseph) May 8, 2016
